Door closing and checking device



Nov. 22, 1960 D. R. LASIER DOOR CLOSING AND cmscxmc DEVICE Filed July 24, 1958 /5 26 Iii ulll mm Illll DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING DEVICE David R. Lasier, Princeton, Ill., assignor to LCN Closers,

Inc., Princeton, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 24, 1958, Ser. No. 750,812

4 Claims. (Cl. 16-49) This invention relates to door closing and checking devices and more particularly to a door closing and checking mechanism that is flexible in its installation.

In the conventional surface type door closing and checking mechanism, a main arm is attached to the spindle of the closing mechanism and a forearm pivotally secured to a shoe on the door frame. In some installations the door frame does not permit the shoe to be positioned in the normal locat.on, for example, when the door frame hasornamental design, or is beveled. Fur-- thermore, :there is often some inaccuracy in mounting the shoezeven'where the 'door frame is of a standard form. After the shoe has been secured tothe. door frame by wood screws, it is often desirable to relocate the shoe so as to change the power applied by the door closing device in closing operations. However, moving the shoe to a different position on the door frame leaves unsightly screw holes at the previous location which usually can be only'disguised by filling with putty and painting.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a door closing and checking mechanism that is flexible in installation and which will permit easy and ready adjustments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a shoe that will allow for inaccuracies in installation of a door closer.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe for use with a door closing and checking mechanism that may be conveniently adjusted.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a soffit plate in which the forearm pivot point can be relocated.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shoe for a door closing and checking device that is inexpensively and conveniently manufactured.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawing:

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of the device shown in Figure 1',

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the shoe illustrating by broken lines how it may be reversed.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a door closing and checking mechanism secured to a door 11 which is hung independently on hinges 12. The door closer has a shaft 14 to which is secured the main arm 15. A forearm 16 is pivotally mounted at one end to the main arm at 17, and connected by a swivel at the other end to a shoe 19 fastened to the door frame 20.

United States Patent 2,960,718 Patented Nov. 22, 1960 "ice Door closing and checking mechanisms of this type are more fully described in Patent No. 868,357.

I In addition to the horizontal pivotal movements about the vertical pivot 17, the forearm may also be pivoted vertically about a generally horizontal pivot. This pivot is located between pivot 17 and shoe 19 and may be constructed of a yoke 22 hinged on tongue 23 carried by pivot 17 by a pin 24. The forearm 16 has a hollow portion 25 fastened by a pin 26 to a reduced extremity of the yoke. The hollow portion contains a slidable rod 27 and by telescoping action therebetween, the forearm may be extended to various desired lengths. A plurality of apertures 28 in the rod are designed to be selectively held in alignment with the aperture in the hollow portion and secured at the selected position by pin 29.

The shoe 19 is mounted on a right angle bracket 30 having a bottom plate 31 provided with screw holes 33 to be secured to the door frame, and a face plate 32 which projects vertically upwardly for holding the shoe 19.

As best shown in Figure 3, the shoe or holder 19 has a base 40 and a pair of spaced ears 41, 42. In each of the ears is threaded a socket member 43 having a concave end portion 56. The socket members are mounted in the ,ears opposite to and with the concave portions facing each other so as to form a hollow socket therebetween. Contained within the socket is a ball 49 that is pressfitted in an opening in the end of the forearm 27 so as to be rigidly secured thereto. Upper and lower sections of the ball project above and below the forearm to engage and be received in the upper and lower socket members respectively. The ball and socket joint thus formed between the forearm and the shoe permits the forearm to be moved in any direction within the confines of the shoe. Thus, the shoe member may be mounted at various locations on the door frame without efiecting the operation of the door closing and checking mechanism. One possible position the forearm may take with respect to the shoe is illustrated by broken lines in Figure 3.

The shoe 19 is pivotally mounted to the face plate 32 of bracket 30 by a pin in the form of a rivet 50. The socket members 43 are mounted to one side, or olfcenter, of the pivot pin 50. Thus, the forearm may be moved horizontally with respect to the pin 50 if the shoe 19 is rotated on pin 50, to relocate the pivot formed by socket members 43 as shown by broken lines in Figure 4. In this way another adjustment of the forearm is possible allowing for a change in the power of the door closing device.

Screw holes 61, 62 in the face plate of the bracket are positioned for alignment with aperture 63 in the base 40 of shoe 19. It will be noted that hole 63 is in the end of the shoe opposite forearm 27, so as to be readily accessible. Thus, the shoe is firmly held in the desired 180 position by a screw 64 between aperture 63 and the particular screw hole 61 or 62 in use.

From the foregoing, operation of the device should be apparent. The door closer 10 is secured to the door and connected to the shoe 19 on a door frame by forearm 16. The shoe may be mounted at several different locations, if, for example, the door frame has ornamental art work, or is of an unusual configuration, or shape. Without effecting the operation of the closing and checking device the shoe has a ball and socket joint to permit vertical movements of the forearm with respect to the door frame. The shoe 19 is mounted, so that the pivot point of the forearm may be changed horizontally without the necessity for removing and relocating the mounting bracket. In this way, the mechanical advantage of the door closer can be changed.

In the drawing and specification, there have been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and for purposes of limitation. The changes in form and proportions of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest are rendered expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination: a door closing and checking device adapted to be mounted on the door and having a main arm pivotally connected to a forearm, and an adjustable soffit plate assembly comprising, a bracket member adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door, a shoe member, a pin member pivotally securing said shoe member to said bracket member so that said shoe member may be moved 180 between two positions, and pivot means mounted on said shoe member pivotally connecting one end of the forearm to said shoe member, said pivot means mounted off-center with respect to said pin member, whereby the location of said pivot means is changed in respect thereto when said shoe member is moved 180.

2. In combination: a door closing and checking device adapted to be mounted on the door and having a main arm pivotally connected to a forearm, and an adjustable sofiit plate assembly comprising a bracket member having a base plate adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door and a face plate, a shoe member, a pin member pivotally securing said shoe member to said face plate, and pivot means mounted on said shoe member connecting one end of the forearm to said shoe member, said pivot means mounted off-center with respect to said pin member, whereby the location of said pivot means is changed in respect to said pin member when said shoe member is moved 3. In combination: a door closing and checking device adapted to be mounted on the door and having a main arm pivotally connected to a forearm, and an adjustable sofiit plate assembly comprising a bracket member adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door, a shoe member having a base portion and two spaced ear portions, a pin member pivotally securing said base portion to said bracket member, and pivot means mounted on said ear portions of said shoe member pivotally connecting one end of the forearm to said shoe member, said pivot means mounted off-center with respect to said pin member, whereby the location of said pivot means is changed in respect to said pin member when said shOe member is moved 180.

4 -In combination: a door closing and checking device adapted to be mounted on the door and having a main arm pivotally connected to a forearm, and an adjustable sofiit plate assembly comprising a bracket member having a horizontal base plate adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door and a vertical face plate, a shoe member, a pin member pivotally securing said shoe member to said face plate, and pivot means mounted on said shoe member connecting one end of the forearm to said shoe member, said pivot means mounted off-center with respect to said pin member whereby the location of said pivot means is changed in respect to said pin member when said shoe member is moved 180.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,068 Schaefer Sept. 3, 1872 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,960,718 November 22 1960 David R, Lasier It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

" Column 3, line 3 before "for". insert not @t'agned and sealed this 2nd day of May 1961.

(SEAL) Attestz- ERNEST w SWIDER I DAVID O LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

